Floating tool holder



` Jan. 23, 1940.

H. A. osBoRNE 2,188,205

FLOATING TOOL HOLDER v Filed sept(` zo, 1937 4 shets-sheef 1 29 30 517. .31 Jfofecesore ,pi v 1| l a l n un Jan. 23, 1940. A H. A. osBoRNE 2,188,205

l FLOATING TooL HOLDER A Filed Sept, 30, 1957 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jn- 23, 1940- H. A; osBRNE 2,188,205

FLOATING TOOL HOLDER Jan. 23, 1940. H, A OSBORNE 2,188,205

FLOATING TOOL HOLDER I Filed Sept. 3 0, 1937 4\ShefS-Sheet 4 5 I V w mn A Patented Jan. 23, 1940 PATENT oEFlcE FLoATmG Toor. HOLDER.

Horace A. Osborne, Racine, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, of two-fifths to Webster Electric Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application September 30, 1937, Serial No. 166,499

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to oating tool holders, and is particularly concerned with providinga floating tool holder having a more effective means of alignment between a machine or power unit and the work upon which the operation is to be performed.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved iioating tool holder which provides a maximum amount of lateral and angular floating motion for the tool, and which is simpler in construction than the devices of the prior art, requiring a minimum number of parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved iioating tool holder which can be used to work with the tools closer together in a cluster, due to its small size and simple con-` struction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved oatingtool holder so arranged for oating motion that it may have a purely lateral displacement, an angular displacement, or

any combination thereof.

Another object is the provision of an improved iioating tool holder which is adapted to be used principally with reamers for forming accurately sized holes, but which may also be used with drills, taps, and any other form of tool.

Another object is the provision of an improved oating tool holder in which the tool is automatically centered, due to the action of its parts while the tool is rotating, but not in use; that-is to say, while itis idling.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, oi.' which there are four sheets:

Fi'g. 1 is an elevational view of a drill head provided with a plurality of arbors, a work support,

and a jig, illustrating the use of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a floating tool holder and a reamer constructed according to the invention, the dotted lines illustrating one limit of range of normal movement;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on a plane passing through the axis of the drive shaft of Fig. 1, showing the details of construction of two of the floating tool holders therein, the left one being in the inoperative position, and the right one being in use;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

' Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the collet which forms a part of the oating tool holder;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of construction, with the tool in inoperative or idle position;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows; ,I

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 of the same construction, showing the tool holder with the tool in operative position;

Fig. v10 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 7 of another modiiication, with the tool in idle position; Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane of the line Ii-il of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig, 12 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 10 and slightly enlarged, showing the tool in the position which it assumes when there is alateral displacement of it relative to the drive shaft;

Fig. 13 is another fragmentary sectional view, taken through the tool holder, showing another modincation;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane of the line il-II of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15.1s a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane-of the line ii-li of Fig. 13;

' Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 13, with the operating parts enlarged, showing the tool in operating position;

r Fig. 17 is another view similar to Fig. 13 of another modification;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line I 8-I8 of Fig. 17, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 19 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane of the line i9-I8 of Fig. 17, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the bottom of the toolholder';

Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the construction of Fig. 17, showing the tool in workengaging position;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the axis of the tool, showing another modified form of construction of the lower end of the collet;

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a preferred modification like Fig. 5 except that it employs but one driving pin.

Figs. 23 and 24 are two more axial sect. al views of another modification, the parts b g shown in different positions;

toA

, face 30 of the table.

Fig. 25 is an elevational view of one type of flexible drive.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numbers III-I3 indicate the floating tool holders constructed according to the invention and used upon the machine shown. I5 indicates the support or table for the work; I6, a back wall against which the jig I1 is positioned; I8 a standard for holding the head and drill press, |9 the gear housing for supporting the drive shafts 20-23 and for housing the gears which connect them.

The head or gear housing |9 is movably mounted on the standard I 8, and may be moved up and down by turning the arbor 24 by means of the handle 25. The drive shafts 23 are driven from the motor I4 by means of the pulleys 26, 21 and belt 28, the auxiliary pulleys being provided for diierent power ratios, and by means of the handle 25 all of the tool holders Ill-I3 may be simultaneously raised or lowered with the head I9.

The jig I1 may comprise a rectangular cast metal supporting member provided with a foot 29 at each cornerfoi` engaging the flat upper sur- The rear side of the rectangular jig base 3| flatly engages the back wall I6, and determines the approximate proper position for the work on the table. l

The jig base 3| is provided with an upwardly extending lug 32, which pivotally supports a retaining arm 33 for holding the work piece 34 in place. The Work piece 34 might, for example, comprise the housing of a gear pump, which has in its finished condition a plurality of substantially parallel, vertically extending bores. 'Ihe work piece 34 may belheld in place by a pivot lever 35, pivotally mounted on the upwardly extending lug 36, and provided with a downwardly extending lug 31 for engaging the cam 38 of a cam lever 39.

The cam lever 39 is pivotally mounted on the A base 3| by means of the screw bolt 40. When the cam lever is rotated toward the observer (Fig. 1) the lever 35 is pivoted in a clockwise direction to secure the work piece 34 in the jig.

The upwardly extending -lug 36 also carries a pivotally mounted arm 4|, which is provided with a multiplicity of bushings 42--45, located in proper position to receive the reamers or tools 46-49, which are to perform work on the work piece 34. The reamers 46-49 operate on previously drilled' holes, and the various arms 4|, 35 and 33 of the jig serve to either support the bushings in place or bring new bushings into place, or to secure the work piece in the jig. Thus.y

the jig is adapted to provide one or more bushings which are in substantial alignment with the aperture which is intended to be formed in the work piece, and the oating tool holders I 8-I3 support' the tools 4 6-49 in such manner as to permit the bushings 42-45 to align the tools 46-49. To accomplish this purpose in the best way, one hundred percent floating action is required in the tool holders |-I 3, the construction of which will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 2, the tool holder I0, supporting the tool 46, is there shown in elevation.

The tool holder is provided with a shank 50, *which is adapted to be received in a chuck. All

the customary types of drill or tool shanks may be Y ventional` type of shank The shank 58 supports the substantially cylinu drical lhead I of the toolholder I0, which may ing the threaded driving screws 66.

be relatively small, according to the present conn struction, and it is so small that tools may be operated very close to each other, in clusters, as shown in Fig. 1, so that a number of operations may be performed at the same time, with the tools very close together.

The body 5| of the tool holder is a substantially cylindrical integral enlargement of the shank 50. The body is provided with an internal cylindrical bore 52 and with a threaded counterbore 53 for receiving the closure plug 54. The bore 52 is relieved or increased in size at 54 and at its upper end 55, and the counterbore 55 is provided with the transverse apertures 56 communicating therewith.

Counterbore 55 communicates with a smaller bore 51 at the upper end of the housing for receiving a compression spring 58, which acts upon a cylindrical plunger 59, having an enlarged head 6U. A pin 6| passing through the head 60 has its ends engaging in the aperture 56, and acts as a stop member to determine the limits of motion of the plunger' 59. The annular surface 62 on the upper side of the head 68 (Fig. 3) engages the annular shoulder 63 in the housing before the pin .6| lengages the upper side of the apertures 56, so

that the load on the working tool is taken between the surface 62 and the surface 63, rather than at the pin 6|.

The housing is also provided with one or more threaded transverse apertures 64, 65 for receiv- These driving screws comprise special steel members having a hardened tip 61, which may be of special shape, such as, for example, partially spherical. The body of each'driving screw 66 is threaded to be received in the bores 64, 65, and is provided with a slot 68 for receiving a screw driver or other` tools.

The tips 61 project into the bore 52 of the housing in position to` engage in slots 69 in the collet 1D. The collet 10 is shown in one form in Fig, 6, and it comprises a substantially cylindrical steel body, having an enlarged cylindrical portion 1| and a smaller cylindrical portion 12, joined by a frusto-conical portion-13. At its upper end it is provided with a cylindrical guide flange 14, joined vto the cylindrical body 1| by a tapered or curved Surface 15.

The guide ange 14 has a at annular surface 16 on its upper side, but the collet has at its ycenter side a partially ball-shaped formation 11 for engaging the flat surface 16 on the head 60 ofA the plunger.

The frusto-conical surface 13 is adapted to engage a complementary inner frusto-conical surface 18 at the upper end of the bore 19 of the screw plug 54. Bore 1940i screw plug 54 is large enough to provide a considerable clearance about the reduced cylindrical portion 12 of the collet, and the cylindrical body of the collet has a considerable clearance inside the bore 52 of the body. This permits lateral, universal, and angular motion of the collet in the body, when the collet is moving in the direction that brings the surfaces 62 and 63 together.

The collet is also provided with an internal tool-shank-receiving bore 80 which may comprise a socket of any conventional shape adapted to receive a tool.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, this is a cylindrical bore which has communication with a pair of laterally extending threaded bores 8|. 'Ihe threaded bores 8| 4receive Iset screws 83, which are sunk into the bores so that there are nov projections when the set screws engage the 7' shank 41, for example, of a tool. Thus, the tool shank is iixedly secured within the collet so that the tool is adapted to be supported and driven by the collet through the pins 66 and housing 5|.

The operation of the tool holder isas follows:

When Vthe tools are withdrawn, above the work;

so that the reamer is not engaging the work, there is no axial pressure on the reamer or other tool. Then the spring 58, acting on plunger 58,

tool.

forces the collet 10 downward in its housing 5| until the frusto-conical surface 13 engages the inner'frusto-conical surface 18. This effectively centers the collet and tool in the housing at the lower end ofthe collet, and a similar action takes place at the upper end of the collet, .due tothe curved surface 16. Thus the tool is substantially centered during its idling or non-operating condition, and there is practically no wabbling of the tool, as is present in some of the devices of the prior art, during the idling of, the

As soon as the tool is brought into engagement with a guide, or with the work, the axial pressure on the tool shank 41 forces the collet upward in its housing, compressing the spring 58, and lifting the frusto-conical seat 13 from the surface 18'.

Then the collet is free to move in any position required by the guide or by the bore of the work to be reamed, and the collet takes the posi- `tion to which it is moved as a result of the action of the tool on the work. It may move angularly, laterally, or both. During this time it is driven by the drive screw 61 in the'slots 69, and it is found that the work can be kept within very close limits of tolerance by the use of such a tool holder.

Referring to Fig. 7, this is a modification in which a different form of housing is employed, and a dierent form of driving member. Inthis case the cylindrical housing 85 is open .at its upper end and provided with a threaded plug 86 which engages a threaded bore 81 in that end of thehouslng. i

The threaded plug 86 slidably supports a cylindrical plunger or piston member 88 in a cylindrical bore 89, the plunger being engaged by a compression spring 80 in a counterbore 8|. The

limits of motion of the plunger 88 are determined by means of a stop pin 92 and a slot 83 In this case the collet has the partially cylindrical, laterally extending slots |04 for engaging the ball bearings |05. 1

The ball bearings |05 Amay be located in the partially cylindrical slots |06 which are formed by drilling into the housing 85 from the bottom to the desired point. The balls |05 are held in place by the pins .|S01 whichare a drive -flt in the apertures |08 extending transversely into the Abore |06.

It will be noted that there is a clearance between the slots |04 and the balls |05, which aids in giving the collet still more freedom of motion.

The operation of this embodiment is the same as that previously described, except that it is driven by means of the balls |05 in the slots |04.

Fig. 9 shows one of the extreme positions which theV collet and tool may take inthe housing when it is engaging the work.

Referring to Fig. 10, this is another modification in which the structure of the housing, plunger and plug are the same as just described, but the collet is provided with the substantially rectangular longitudinally extending slots |00 for engaging the key members H0, which are of similar shape.

4The key members ||0 may have a drive fit in the slots iii the housing 85. It will be noted that there is a clearance between the key members ||0 and the slots'l09 of the collet in this case. n

Fig. l2 shows the freedom of motion of the collet within its housing in a tool holder of this construction.

i Referring to Fig. 13, this is another modification, in which there is but a single drive pin I|2 20 located in the housing H3. The collet is provided with a single slot 4, which is of greater width than the hardened end ||5 of the pin I i2'.

The other elements may be substantially as described with respect to Figures '7 and 10, but it will be noted that when only a single pin is provided there is a possibility of still greater freedom of motion of the collet within its housing.

I desire it to be understood that any of the embodiments of the preceding later figures may also be constructed with but a single driving pin, ball, key, or the like.

Referring to Fig. 17 this is another modification, in which the collet is provided with a frustoconical iiange 6, underneath its head H1, as

`well as the frusto-conical surface 8 at the botsoon as the tool is brought into use and axial' pressure on the tool is exerted, the collet is y lifted from its seat, as shown in Fig. 20.

.Referring to Fig. 21, this is another modiflcal tion, in which the colletis provided with-a lower curved annular surface I2| for engaging the frusto-conical surface |22, to effect a centering of the collet.

, I desire it to be understoodthat the present tool holders need not always be used with jigs, but, when no jig is used, the tool will be aligned by means of a drilled hole within which the tool isv worked;

vReferring to Fig. 22, this isa section similar-to Fig 5, of a similar modification, in which only one driving pin 611s used. This is one of the preferred embodiments.

It should also benoted that a clearance is necessary around all driving pins, keys, or balls.

Referring toFigs. 23, and 24, these are axial sectional views of another modification.

In Fig. 23 the parts are shown in the position which they assume when the axis of thev collet is substantially parallel to that of the housing.

In Fig. 24 the parts are shown in another position, with the axis of the collet at an angle to the axis of the housing.

-This modification preferably includes a threaded body |40, provided with a `shank |4|,- the threaded body |40 also having a cylindrical outer surface |42 and a reduced threadedcylindrical portion |48. 'Ihe reduced threaded-,portion |43 has an laxial bore I 44 with a. clearance about a exible drive shaft |45, the enlarged bore |44 terminating in a non-circular socket |46. The body or housing |41 comprises a metal member having an outer cylindrical form and having an inner cylindrical bore |48 which is provided with a threaded portion |49 adapted to engage the threaded portion |43. The shank body |42 and housing |41 may have complementary cylindrical surfaces at |50, I and the cylindrical chamber |46 terminates in a frusto-conical portion |52 leading to a cylindrical enlarged aperture |53.

The cylindrical chamber. |48 may also be provided with an annular groove |54 surrounding the headed portion |55 of the collet |56 to pro'- vide asuitable clearance. The collet |56 comprises a cylindrical metal member which is provided With the cylindrical headed portion |55 at its upper end,.the headed portion |55 being a sliding fitv in the cylindrical bore |51 so as to effect a centering of the collet when it mo'ves downward in the housing |41.

The collet has a non-circular socket |58 in its upper end for receiving the lower end of the drive shaft |45, and it also has a cylindrical recess |59 for providing a seat for the spring |60, which surrounds the drive shaft |45. l

In its lower end the collet |56 is provided with a suitable socket |6| and with a set screw |62 for securing the shank |63 of a suitable tool in the collet, such as a drill or reamer. The lower frusto-conical portion |64 of the collet coopf for engaging the upper face of the washer |66,

which is a part of a thrust bearing Aincluding the balls |61, which are connedby a cage. The balls |61 also engage the lower washer |68, which also has upper and lower flat surfaces engaged byv the upper end of spring |60.

There is a suitable clearance about the edges of the washers |66, |68 so that the lower washer may move toward the left'or right, or in any direction to which it may be impelled by the irregular motion of the collet |56 with a minimum amount of friction. The drive shaft |45 has a tight fit in its upper socket |46, but a loose-sliding ilt in its lower socket |58, and the lower socket |58 is of sufficient depth so that the collet may move axially with respect to this end of the drive yshaft until the end |69 engages the lower face of the washer |66.`

The drive shaft |45 may consist of a flexible steel shaft member of twisted strands of steel wire, formed with straightv or twisted strands in the center and covered with a helical coil of twisted steelwire on the outside, as shown in Fig. 5. The ends of the shaft are squared by application of hammering or vpressing so that they llt in the squared sockets |46, |58. The drive shaft may in some embodiments also be constructed of hard rubber or .liber provided at each end with steel collars and reinforced with suitable `steel wires;

It will thus be observed that in this embodiinent the'collet is driven by means of a exible shaft connection. 4 The operation of this oating tool holder is substantially the same as those previously described, and when the tool` is in idling position,

u without any axial pressure on the tool, the collet is centered in its housing. When axial pressure is placed upon the tool carried by the collet, the collet is driven from its seat, the spring |60 is compressed, `and the upper end |69 of the collet engages the lower washer of the thrust bearing.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved tool holder which gives a lateral float, a parallel float, and an angular oat to a tool. The present tool holder is so simple that it requires a minimum number of parts, and may be constructed more economically than the devices of the prior art. Due to its small size, the tool holders can be worked closely together, in clusters,

and may be used with or without jigs. It is used mainly with reamers, to produce accurate sized holes, but it may be used with drills, taps, or any other tool which should not be firmly and iixedly supported. The present tool holder is adapted to permit the machining of parts to closer tolerances than the devices of the prior art, at a lower cost.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but de-V sire to avail myself of all changes within the scop e of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. In a floating toolholder, the combination of an elongated housing member provided with' an internal axially extending bore having said bore open at one end with a-supporting shank carried by said housing at its opposite end for securement of the tool holder in a chuck or the like, a floating collet located in said lbore and having means for securing the shank of a tool in said collet,

`said housing having at its open end an inner frusto-conical surface surrounding a centrally located opening and leading to th'e bore in which said collet is located, said collet having a clearance in said bore whereby the collet adapted to have lateral and angular floating movement ln said bore and said collet having a complementary frusto-conical surface at the tool supporting end thereof for engagement with the irst mentioned frusto-conical surface in said housing, spring means carried by said housing and urging said collet axially of said housing to bring said frusto-conical surfaces into engagement with each other and to center said collet and the tool held thereby when the tool isnot engaging a workpiece, and driving means between said collet and said housing of a universal character adapted to permit the axial, lateral and angular oat-k ing movement of said collet whereby when the tool engages a workpiece the collet is lifted from its frusto-conical seat in the housing and adapted to be rotated while assuming the position impressed upon it by a guide member engaging said tool" said housing including an `anti-friction thrust bearing between said collet and the closed lend Aof said housing and said drive means extending through said anti-friction bearing, said drive means comprising a exible shaft formed of spirally twisted wire having one end carried by said housing and the opposite end engaged in said collet for sliding movement while rotating said collet.

-2. In a lfloating tool holder, the combination `of a housing provided with a shank adapted to be secured in a chuck or the like, said housing being provided with an axial bore having an opening: at: its; lower' end forI passage of a tool shank, and said housing' having in said bore-a pair' o1'. annular centering surfaces; aiioating, collet said housing comprising a metal memben having, an axially extending bore for receiv' ing; the: shank of a tool means for securing said shank, in. saidv bore said collet having a pair of axially spaced, annular, tapered centering suriacesslocated to engage the, annular centering surfaces; carried by said housing and universal drivin meansfor connecting the inner end of said collettoV said housing whereby the collet is adapted to:` be automatica-ily` centered by said annular surfaces; and tapered surfaces upon removal of any axial` thrust on thel tool carried by said collet, and said collet` is adapted to have full lateral and annular oating movement while being driven by said housing upon the application of an axial thrust to the tool carried by said collet', and resilient` means in said` housing for urging said collet axially in said housing in such a direction as to bring the. tapered surfaces in said collet into engagement with the adjacent annular surfaces of said'. housing to eiiect a centering of they collet and the tool carried thereby, upon removal of axial thrust from the tool, and anti-friction bearing means interposed between the end of said housing and said collet for taking the thrust placed upon said collet when there is an axial thrust upon the tool carried by said collet..

3. In a oating tool holder, the combination of a housing provided with a shank adapted to be secured in a chuck or the like, said housing being provided with an axial bore having an opening at itslower end for passage of a tool shank, and said housing having in said bore a pair of annular centering surfaces, a floating collet .in said I housing comprising a metal member having an axially' extending bore for receiving the shank of a tool, means for securing said shank in said bore, said collet having' a pairI of axially spaced, annular, tapered centering surfaces located to engage the annular centering surfacesI carried reason by said housing.. and universal driving means for connecting the inner end of said collet to slid housing, whereby the collet is adapted to be automatically centered by said annular surfaces and tapered surfaces upon removal of any axial thrust on the tool carried by said collet, and said collet is adapted to have `full lateral and annular floating movement whilebeing driven by said housingl upon the application of an axial Vthrust to the tool. carried by said collet, said collet and said housing having opposite, noncircular sockets therein, and said universal driving means comprising a relatively stiii yet ilexible, shaft of coiled wire.

4. In a oating tool holder, the combination of a housing providedwith a shank adapted to be secured in a chuck or the like, said housing .beingl provided with an axial bore having an opening at its lower end for passage of a tool shank, and said housing having in said bore a pair of annular centering surfaces, a floating collet in said housing comprising a metal member having an axially extending bore for receiving the shank of a tool, means for securing said shank in said bore, said collet having a pair of axially spaced, annular, tapered centering surfaces located to engage the annular centering surfaces carried by said housing. and universal driving means for connecting the inner end of said collet to said housing.` whereby the collet is adapted to be automatically centered by said annular surfaces and tapered surfaces upon removal of any axial thrust on the tool carried by said collet, and said collet is adapted to have full lateral and annular floating movement whe being driven by said housing upon the application of an axial'thrust to the tool carried by said collet, said bore in said housing having oylinlirir-` cal portions located at each end of said collet,v and said collet being substantially cylindrical, with a cylindrical flange at its inner end adapd to have a substantial nt in the cylindrical portion of said bore.

HORACE A. OSBORNE. 

